Aleksander Kolarov's sending off in the 80th minute, for a second yellow card, ensured that the closing stages were tense but the Blues held on to keep a good grip on fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

"We deserved to win but we made it hard for ourselves," said Roberto, “but if we don't score when we create so many chances this is what can happen.

"I'm not sure if it was one of our best performances, we also had a lot of chances against Blackpool and Birmingham, but we must improve when are in front of goal, especially at home.

"Their keeper made four or five good saves, and we were selfish at times. We made mistakes when we could have scored, but that is football."

City will also be without Carlos Tevez, as well as their Serbian left back, for the game at Upton Park next Saturday after Carlos Tevez received his fifth yellow card of the season. The skipper angrily kicked the ball away when disagreeing with a decision from referee Andre Marriner, and the Manager ruefully reflected on his reduced options for next week.

With Carlos I agree with the referee, he deserved that yellow card. But I do not agree with the linesman with the sending off, I don't think that was a good decision.

...Boss on Carlos' yellow card

Mario Balotelli put in another eye-catching performance on the day he was splashed all over the papers for supposed "bust-up" with Jerome Boateng in training, something the Manager shrugged off as part and parcel of football.

"What happened yesterday was nothing, it was a normal situation that maybe happens at every club every week. He played well today, all that was missing was a goal, but he can still improve in all parts of his game.

"Jerome was in the stands, because I can't put three defenders on the bench. Two weeks ago it was Joleon, a week before that it was Micah, it's a normal situation."

The injury that saw Kolo Toure forced off in the first half was confirmed as a calf problem, but as yet there is no time frame on how long the Ivorian may be out for.